How should a PA address personal biases when treating a patient from a different cultural background?

• A. Ignore biases.
• B. Acknowledge biases, seek understanding, practice culturally responsive care, and involve interpreters when needed.
• C. Assume all patients share the same background.
• D. Replace patient with someone else.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is handling personal biases through cultural humility and delivering culturally responsive care. A PA should acknowledge any biases and actively seek to understand the patient’s cultural perspective, beliefs, and values. This means engaging in open, respectful dialogue, avoiding assumptions, and adapting care to fit the patient’s needs and preferences. When language differences exist, using interpreters or translation services is essential to ensure clear communication, informed consent, and shared decision-making. This approach helps build trust, improves adherence, and reduces the risk that bias will color clinical judgment.

Why the other approaches don’t fit: ignoring biases can lead to discriminatory care and poor outcomes; assuming all patients share the same background ignores diversity and can result in inappropriate treatment; replacing the patient with someone else is unethical and disrespectful.